ATLANTIC HIGHLANDS – New “Sharrow signs, 30 of them, will be installed before May along the route of Henry Hudson Trail as it winds through Atlantic Highlands between Route 36 and the Municipal Yacht Harbor side of the Monmouth County Parks Department trail.
Councilman Brian Dougherty displayed one of the signs and gave the background information on the cooperative efforts between the town and the county that will now make the trail as it goes through the borough safer and easier for cyclists and walkers who take advantage of one of Monmouth County’s most traversed parks areas.
The trail, for the most part, was created along the former right-of-way of the New Jersey Central passenger train that used to come from New York through all the Bayshore towns and cross the Highlands Sea Bright bridge before continuing further south. However, through the borough, not all the railroad land could be acquired, so the path continues along local streets with users making the decision on which street, if they know them, they can take from Avenue D to First avenue and eventually the marked trail adjacent to the harbor and continuing to Highlands and beyond.
Dougherty recognized the problem that existed with what he described as “one of the true gems in Atlantic Highlands” and decided to do something about it shortly after being elected to Council. Describing the fact the linkage between the trail’s main portion that runs parallel to Route 36 and the waterfront portion along the bay is not very clearly marked, he said at last week’s council meeting that he has frequently seen confused cyclists checking out Google Maps trying to figure out where to go.
“That’s about to change,” he told the residents.
The councilman explained that the Monmouth County Parks Department agreed to install 30 “sharrow” markings, signs on the streets which will vastly improve the way-finding and create more safety along the corridor. Because of the partnership, Dougherty also pointed out the project will be completed at no cost to the borough, and expressed his thanks to Parks manager Andy Spears for agreeing to their proposal.
Dougherty did not say at the meeting but it was he who approached borough administrator Roberto Ferragina and Public Works Director Jim Phillips last year to see what could be done to correct what he felt was an unsafe condition. Ferragina contacted Spears and the plan was designed, arranged, and is now being implemented.
